Hospital protest at Bonalbo

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BONALBO residents angry at the closure of their hospital's emergency department at night will protest at the town this afternoon.

The hospital's 11pm to 7am emergency service, which services about 4000 people, was closed recently in the wake of the Northern NSW Local Health District's difficulties in replacing the town's GP, Dr Trevor Tierney, who retired at the end of last year.

It is understood the after-hours emergency service has been lightly used since Dr Tierney retired, partly because residents were worried about being transferred to the Casino, Lismore, or Urbenville hospitals and then being stranded there when they were discharged.

However, health advocates in the town have said even people who could access the service without fear of being transferred weren't using it because they had not realised it remained open after Dr Tierney's retirement.

Today's protest is scheduled for 2pm outside the gates of the hospital.